ART. 4. ] REGISTRATION OP VOTERS.

39

dence necessary to entitle any person to vote or remain so registered

to vote, and the evidence necessary to entitle any person to be or

remain so registered, shall be an actual bond fide residence within

the precinct or district within which such person may claim to reside

and to be registered; and such actual bona fide residence shall be

established upon the oath or affirmation of competent evidence to

the satisfaction of the register to whom the application is made, and

to the satisfaction of the judge or judges to whom any appeal is

made under the provisions of this act; and the neglect or refusal of

any person deeming himself aggrieved by the refusal of any officer

of registration to register his name, or by the striking off of his

name from the list of qualified voters, to appeal by petition from

such action, as provided for in this art, shall be deemed and taken

to be conclusive evidence that the said person was rightfully refused

registration, or that the name of such person was rightfully stricken

from the list of qualified voters of such precinct or election district.

17. Whilst discharging the duties imposed by the several sec-

Id. s. 14.

tions of this act, said officers of registration shall have and exercise

the powers of a justice of the peace for the preservation of order

Powers of

around the place of registration, and may compel the presence of

registers

witnesses for the purpose of obtaining any information necessary

to an intelligent discharge of the duties of their office; they shall

have power to issue summons, attachments, and commitments to

any sheriff or constable, who shall serve such process as if issued by

a judge of a court or a justice of the peace, and shall receive the

same fees and in the same manner as allowed by law in State cases,

but the officers of registration shall not charge any fee for the issu-

ing of such process, or receive any fee or emoluments for this or any

other service they may perform in the proper discharge of their

duties, except provided in this article.

18- Immediately after the ordering of any new or special elec-

Id. s 15.

tion as provided by the Constitution, except for senators or members

New or special
election

of the House of Delegates, the clerk of the Circuit Court of the

county in which such new or special election is to be held, or the

clerk of the Superior Court for Baltimore City, if such election is to

be held in said city, shall deliver to the officers of registration of said

county or city the books of registration, and lists of qualified voters

for said county or city, whereupon said officers of registration shall

for three successive days if in Baltimore city, or for two successive

days if in either of the counties, commencing not more than ten

Time and place
of sitting of

days after the ordering of such election, at some convenient place

registers.

to the voters of the several election districts of said county, or of the

several precincts of Baltimore city, sit with open doors from nine

o'clock A. M. to six o'clock P. M. in the several counties, or from nine

o'clock A. M. to nine o'clock p M. in Baltimore city, for the purpose of

registering all persons applying to them for that purpose, who may

possess the necessary qualifications to vote at such election in the

manner hereinbefore prescribed, and shall proceed to strike from the